Basket



ApriE 30, 1935. B. F. KELLs 1,999,46

BASKET Filed Nov. 14, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l B. F. KELLS April 30, 1935.

BASKET Filed Nov. 14, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 r y@ m m f PT 30, 1935. B.1FA KELLS. I 1,999,461

BASKET Filed Nov. 14, 1934 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5y" g, 0d. MAJ/MM PatentedAApr. 30, 1935 UNITED STATES BASKET Benjamin F. Kelle, Cincinnati, h10.

assigner to Container Corporation of America.' Chicago,`

lll., a corporation of Delaware Application November 14, 1934, SerialNo. 753,032

16 Claims.-

T'his invention relates to handle boxes or baskets and more particularlyto a box or basket adapted to be made from paper or flbreboard.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple andeconomical paperboard box or basket which can be shipped in a collapsedcondition to the user and can be readily set up by him without requiringthe use of any special erecting or assembling equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box or basket of lstrongand sturdy form, having a relatively smooth interior and exterior,particularly avoiding raw or rough edges along the tops of the sidewalls.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a reinforced top edgeconstruction for the walls of the basket and to provide an arrangementby which the parts of the basket may be effectively secured together bymeans which also serves as a strong and durable handle for the basket.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an alternativeconstruction of handle which may be united with the basket by simplestapling operation. f

An additional object is to provide a cover for a basket of the typedescribed which cover will not be likely to become readily displacedduring handling of the basket.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, .all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being` pointed out in the claims at theend of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view, partly in section of a preferredembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the blank;

Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating a preferred form of handle;

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating how the basket isto be folded in the process of assembly;

' Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank forming a cover for the basket;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modified form of handle;

Fig. 'I is a detail view illustrating the method of assembly of thehandle shown in Fig. 6 with the box;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, partly in section of a modied form of theinvention; and

Fig. 9 is a detail view of another modified form of handle.

Similar reference numeralsy throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

REISSUED 'Ihe present invention provides a simple and convenient basketconstruction having reinforced side walls and a rim portion at the upperedge thereof serving additionally to reinforce and stiifen the basketand includes the use of a handle adapted to serve both as a carryingmeans and a means for securing the basket in its assembled form.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the basket, indicated as awhole at 5, in Fig. 1, may be formed of'any cheap material, such asfibre or paper board, which is capable of being folded or bent withoutappreciable breaking.

A preferred form of the blank is illustrated in Fig. 2. This blankcomprises a. central panel 6 forming the bottom of the basket, sidepanels l, l, forming the side walls and end panels 8, 8 forming the endwalls. End wall flaps are preferably of such a length as tosubstantially meet when folded inwardly against the side walls.

In order to strengthen and stiifen the upper edges of the side and endwalls and also for the purpose of providing a smooth upper edge for thebasket walls there is preferably provided at each end of the blank astrip Il). These strips, in the present instance, extend the entirelength of the end wall panel 8 and the end wall flaps 9, 9. In order tofacilitate bending of the strips I0 around the corner of the basket,die-cut openings II, II are preferably cut in the blank where thecorners of end wall 8 and end wall flap 9 meet the strip I 0.'

The end wall panels may be secured to the side walls in any desiredmanner but in the present instance it is preferred to employ a handlemember so constructed and assembled with the side walls and end wallflaps as to'maintain said walls and iiaps in assembled condition. Forthis purpose the handle member I2 is employed, see Figs. 1 and 3.

The handle I2 may be constructed in one piece if desired but in thepresent instance is illustrated as comprising two sections, I2' and I2.As each section is identical, a description of one will sufce. Eachsection comprises a shank I3 substantially parallel with the bottom ofthe basket. A hook portion I 4 is provided at the free end of the shankI3, such hook portion lying substantially in the plane of the sidewalls. The inner end of' the shank terminates in a downwardly exrtending portion I5 which is connected at its lower end with a bifurcatedbasket-engaging hook I 6 having prongs I1, I1 bent downwardly and 01T-set inwardly from a horizontal portion I8 con,-

' nected to the vertically extending part I5.

Registering openings I9, I9 in the side walls; 20, 20 in the end wallflaps, and 2 I 2| in the strip extensions thereon are preferablyprovided to receive the bifurcated ends of the handle.

Registering Ventilating. openings 22, 22 in the side Walls and 23, 23 inthe end wall flaps are provided to afford adequate ventilation of thebasket.

In the assembly of the basket the blank will be furnished flat and thefirst step will be to bend back the strips I0 along their attached endWall and end wall flaps. The end wall flaps are then bent to a positionsubstantially at right-angles to the end walls and the side walls arebent upwardly to a position wherein they will lie in the plane of theend wall flaps. The end wall flaps Will then be swung downwardly causingthe end wall to assume a position at right-angles to the bottom andpreferably causing the side walls to be engaged between the end wallflaps and the strips I0.

When the end wall flaps 9, 9 are resting with their lower edges adjacentthe bottom of the basket the openings I9, 2D and 2l will be insubstantial registration. 'Ihe bifurcated ends of the handle members arethen inserted through these registering openings preferably through theoutside of the basket. When both sections of the handle are in placethey may be firmly and practically permanently secured by rst engagingone shank I3 in the hook I4 on the opposite shank then twisting suchshank around the other as indicated in Fig. 1 and then fastening thehook on this shank around the opposite shank.

It will be obvious that, if desired, the bifurcated ends of the handlesections may be bent reversely to the manner shown so that they may beinserted from the inside of the basket instead of from the outside.

In the modified form of basket illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, the basketis made from a blank similar to that shown in Fig. 2, one side wallbeing indicated at 12, the end wall flaps at 9a, 9a and the stripextensions at Illa, Ia.

The handle I2a, on this form of the invention is preferably formed in asingle piece having a shank I3a joined at each end with a downwardlyextending portion Ida, terminating in laterally extending sections I5a.

The handle I2a is assembled with the basket b first folding the basketas described above, then inserting the handle so that the sections I5a,I 5a engage beneath the fold between the strips Illa and the side Walls9a. Securing means such as staples IGa, IIa are then inserted so as tohold such strips firmly in position.

The basket cover of the present invention is preferably constructed soas to prevent accidental displacement and at the same time allow thecover to be somewhat raised when desired for inspection of the contentsof the basket.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, the cover 25 has a top panel 26 anddepending flanges 21, 27 at the sides thereof and 28, 28 at its ends.

In order to provide ready assembly of the cover on the basket, the coveris preferably provided with a transversely extending slot 29 somewhatoffset from thecenter line of the cover and having additionallongitudinally extending slots 30, 30 extending substantially to orslightly past the central transverse line of the cover. The longitudinalslots 30, 30 form between them what may be termed a tongue 3|.

In the use of the cover it is first placed so that the basket handlepasses up through the transverse slot 29 until the flange 28 at one endof the cover rests upon the top edge of the basket. In this manner thetongue 3I is brought to a level below the horizontal shank I3 of thehandle, after which the cover may be slid longitudinally of the basketso that the upright parts of the handle are received respectively withinthe slots 30, 30. When the handle is substantially in contact with theend of the slots 30,' 30 the flange 28 will have dropped down over theend wall of the basket thus causing the cover to be rmly positionedthereon.

In removing the cover, it is necessary to both lift it and slide itlongitudinally of the basket so that it is apparent that the covercannot be displaced except by positive intention. If it is desired toinspect the contents of the basket the cover may be lifted from eitherend so that the end of such cover is slightly above the top of thebasket.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the basket5b is formed from a blank identical in shape with the blank shown inFig. 2 and comprises, as shown, end walls 8b, 8b and side walls 1b, 1b.The stiip or rim IIJb is folded downwardly as in the previouslydescribed forms and apertures 2 Ib, 2 Ib are provided in the strip I 0bto receive the ends of the handle, as previously described. Otherregistering apertures, as previously described,'are also provided in theside walls 1b, 1b. i

The handle utilized in this form of the invention is designated as awhole at I2b and comprises two identical sections I2c and I2d, one ofwhich is indicated in detail at Fig. 9. Each section of the handlecomprises a shank I3b, a hook portion I4b at the free end thereof and avertical portion |51) terminating in a bifurcated basketengaging` hookIGb having prongs I'lb, I 1b offset inwardly from a horizontal portionI8b connected with the vertical extending portion I5b, all similar tothe handle previously described above.

The difference in the handle of the present modification resides in theformation of a retaining member 35h, which, in the present instance isin the shape of a downwardly'bent portion or kink in the horizontalshank I3b of each handle section and near the point of juncture of theshank I3b and the vertical extending portion I5b. The purpose of theretaining member I3b is to retain the handle sections in assembledposition as indicated in Fig. 8.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8. the cover 25h is in the form of aflat sheet scored at 2Gb to permit either end of the cover to be raisedfor inspection of the contents of the basket. The cover 25h ispreferably provided with end flaps 28h which may be tucked in at theends of the basket.

In the use of the embodiment just described, the basket will be set upand the hook portions of the handle inserted in the apertures therefor,in the same manner as previously described. However, instead of engagingthe handle sections in assembled position as shown in Fig. 8 thesections are brought together so that the hooks Mb, Mb engage thecomplementary shank portions inside of the retaining members 35h. It isapparent that the engagement ofthe handle sections in this manner willcause the side walls oi' the basket to be somewhat ared outwardly. Afterthe contents of the basket have been packed therein the cover is placedon the basket and the ilaps 23h, 28D are inserted. After the cover is inplace, the handle sections are brought to final position as indicated atFig. 8 by exerting inward pressure on each side of the basket. Thisinward pressure will cause the hooks Ilb, lllb to slip past theretaining members h and the hooks will then be retained between thesemembers and the vertical portion i519 of the handle sections. The coverZlib is preferably made of such a width as to be engaged by the verticalportion I5b of the handle sections, thus providing for a frictionalretention of the cover member adjacent the midportion thereof.

From th-e foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides abasket of paper or bre board which is admirably suited for the handlingof small quantities of fruit and vegetables such as grapes and tomatoesand which can be shipped to the packer in a flat, compact form to bereadily set up by him.

The side walls of the basket are particularly strong and sturdy as theyare of double thickness and additionally reinforced by the outer stripextending around the top of the basket which, at the same time, isadvantageous for use with relatively delicate fruit such as grapes andtomatoes due to the smooth and practically unbroken upper edge of thebasket which is formed by the downwardly folded rim. The downturned rimat the top of the basket also insured proper ventilation of the basketswhen piled in a car or store-room, due to the fact that the rims contacteach other and hold the body portions of the baskets out of closeContact, thus permitting the free circulation of air both around thebaskets as well as into the baskets through the Ventilating openings-provided in the side walls.

The form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8 isparticularly well suited for a fruit packer who does not have any formof stapling or riveting equipment. Due to the particular form of handleshown in detail in Figs. 3 and 9 it is possible to set up the basket ina practically permanent form by the mere act of assembling the handletherewith. By proper proportioning of the bifurcated ends ll, il of thehandle it is possible to cause these ends to be somewhat imbedde'd intothe material of the end Wall flaps ll, 9 forming the interior face ofthe basket to thus minimize any roughness which would otherwise existdue to the exposed ends ll, ll on the inside of the basket.

Where the fruit packer desires to avoid any possible contact oi' thefruit with the metallic parts of the handle,lthe basket and handleillustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 may be employed, it being only necessary,in using this form of invention, to have a stapling or riveting machinefor the purpose of securing the bent-over strip against the outside ofthe basket.

lDue to the particular form of cover employed, the contents of thebasket may be effectively protected during storage and transportationand at the same time the basket contents may be inspected for conditionby tilting the cover at one end or the other as has been described. Thecover construction is such that it will not be likely to become readilydisplaced due to the fact that it requires a combination of vertical andlongitudinal movements to remove it.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of theinvention, numerous changes may be made in the construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desiredthat the present embodiment be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A breboard basket comprising a bottom and end walls, side wallsintegrally connected to the bottom, flaps on said end walls adapted tobe folded so as to lie against the side walls when the basket is set up,a strip extending from the edge of the end wall flaps and adapted to bebent over the upper edge of the side wall adjacent said aps, andsecuring means passing through said strips and adjacent side wall ateach side of the basket for holding same in set-up condition.

2. A breboard basket comprising a bottom and end walls, side wallsintegrally connected to the bottom, flaps on said end walls adapted tobe folded so as to lie against the side walls when the basket is set up,a strip extending from the edge of the end wall iiaps and adapted to bebent over the upper edge of the side wall adjacent said flaps, said endwall aps and stripshthereon being of a length so as to substantially metcentrally of the basket, and a single securing means passing throughsaid strips and adjacent side wall at each side of the basket forholding same in set-up condition.

3. A breboard basket comprising a bottom and end walls, side wallsintegrally connected to the bottom, iiaps on said end walls adapted tobe folded so as to lie against the side walls when the basket is set up,a strip extending from the edge of the end wall flaps and adapted to bebent over the upper edge of the side wall adjacent said naps, said endwall flaps and strips thereon being of a length so as to substantiallymeet centrally of the basket, and a handle for the basket having meansprojecting through said strips and adjacent side wall at each side ofthe basket for securing the handle in place and at the same time holdingthe basket in set-up condition.

4. A breboard basket comprising a bottom and end walls, side wallsintegrally connected to the bottom, lflaps on said end walls adapted tobe folded so as to lie against the side wall when the basket is set up,a strip extending from the edge of the end wall and end wall flaps andadapted to be bent over to lie against the outside of the end wall andthe side walls to provide a single rim extending around the corners ofthe basket, and means for securing the basket in set-up condition.

5. A breboard basket of relatively heavy nbreboard, comprising a bottomand end walls, side Walls integrally connected to the bottom, iiaps onsaid end Walls and defined therefrom by score lines to adapt said flapsto be folded so as to lie against the side wall when the `basket is setup, a strip extending from the edge of the end wall and end Wall iapsand defined therefrom by score lines so as to adapt said strip to bebent over to lie against the outside of the end wall and the side wallsto provide a single rim extending around the corners of the basket,means forisecuring the basket in set-up condition, and die-cut openingsformed at the intersection of the score lines above mentioned adapted tofacilitate bending of the strip against the outside of the basket.

6. A flbreboard basket comprising a bottom and end walls, side wallsintegrally connected to the bottom, flaps on said end walls adapted tobe folded so as to lie against the side walls, when the basket is setup, a strip extending lili Cil

from the edge of each of the end wall flaps and adapted to be foldedover the upper edges of the side walls adjacent said flaps, said iiapsand the strips thereon being of a length so as to substantially meetcentrally of the side walls, a handle for the basket, said handleincluding a pair of vertically extending portions, and horizontallyextending portions at the lower ends of each vertically extendingportion, said horizontally extending portions being disposedrespectively beneath the folds formed between the end wall ilaps and theextended strips thereon.

7. A handle section for a collapsible breboard basket, said sectioncomprising an upstanding portion, a laterally extending shank joinedthereto and terminating at its outer end in a hooked portion adapted toengage beneath a similar laterally extending shank on another handlesection, said upstanding portion terminating at its lower end in abasket wall engaging hook.

8. A handle section for a collapsible breboard basket, said sectioncomprising an upstanding portion, a laterally extending shank joinedtheretoand terminating at its outer end in a hooked portion adapted toengage beneath a similar laterally extending shank on another handlesection, said upstanding portion terminating at its lower end inabifurcated hook adapted to extend from the outside of the basketthrough the basket wall and contact the inner face of the basket.

9. A handle section for a collapsible flbreboard basket, said sectioncomprising an upstanding portion, a laterally extending shank joinedthereto, means associated with said laterally extending shank forconnecting same to the'shank of a similar handle section, saiddownwardly extending section terminating at its lower end in a basketwall engaging hook.

10. A breboard basket comprising a bottom, end walls and side wallscooperating therewith, a reinforcing member lying at against each sidewall to stiffen and strengthen same, said reinforcing members having astrip extension thereon adapted to fold over the upper edge of theadjacent side wall, and handle means for the basket including means forsecuring said extended strip to side wall.

11. A collapsible breboard basket of relatively heavy fibreboardmaterial comprising bottom, side and end walls, flaps on the end wallsadapted to lie against the inner faces of the side walls, and adownturned rim extension integral with the end walls and end-wall flapsand lying on the outside of the basket to provide a smooth un` brokenrim around the corners of the basket, a portion of the basket being cutaway at the upper corners of the basket to facilitate bending of the rimextension.

12. A breboard basket formed of a single blank of sheet material, abottom panel, side walls hingedly connected thereto, end walls on theends of said bottom panel, end wall flaps extending laterally from theend walls, said end wall aps being adapted to lie against the insidesurface of the side walls, an extended strip on the outer edge of theend wall and end wall aps, said strip being dened from the end wall by ascore line and being adapted to be bent over to lie against the outersurface of the side walls, said side wall having handle-receivingapertures centrally thereof and the end wail flaps as well as the'stripsthereon having apertures that register respectively with one of theapertures in the side wall, and a handle member having bifurcated endportions at each end adapted to engage through said registeringapertures whereby the end -wall iiaps and the strip extensions thereonare held in xed relation to the side walls.

13. A breboard basket comprising a bottom, side and end walls, a handlefor said basket, said handle having upstanding portions extendingsubstantially from the top edges of said walls, a transverse portion ofthe handle connecting said upstanding portions, a cover adapted to closethe upper side of said basket, said cover having a depending flangearound its outer edges and being provided with a transversely extendingslot adapted to allow passage of the handle therethrough, said slotbeing oiset from the center of the cover, additional slots'formed in thecover at each side thereof and communicating with said first-mentionedslot and extending to substantially the transverse center of the cover,whereby the cover after being placed on the basket through thefirst-mentioned transverse slot, may be slid lengthwise to allow theanges of the cover to engage around the basket.

14. A cover adapted for use with a basket having a handle disposedcentrally and transversely of its length, said cover having a dependingflange around its outer edges and being provided with a transverselyextending slot adapted to allow passage of a basket handle therethrough,said slot being offset from the center of the cover, additional slotsformed in the cover at each side thereof and communicating with saidfirst-mentioned slot and extending to substantially the transversecenter of the cover, whereby the cover after being placed on the basketthrough the first-mentioned transverse slot, may be slid lengthwise toallow the anges of the cover to engage around the basket.

15. A fibreboard basket comprising a bottom,

end and side walls, a handle comprising two sections engagedrespectively with the opposite side walls and each section including anupstanding portion, a horizontal portion connected thereto and a hook atthe outward extremity of the horizontal portion, a retaining memberformed on each horizontal portion adjacent but spaced from theupstanding portion, said retaining member on each handle section beingadapted to retain the hook of the opposite handle section againstdisplacement in a direction toward the mid-portion of the handle.

16. Av breboard basket comprising a bottom, end and side walls, `ahandle comprising two sections engaged respectively withthe oppositeside walls and each section including an upstanding portion, ahorizontal portion connected thereto and a hook at the outward`extremity of the horizontal portion, a retaining member formed on eachhorizontal portion adjacent but spaced from the upstanding portion, saidretaining member on each handle section being adapted to retain the hookon a side thereof remote from the upstanding portion of the oppositesection while the basket is being filled, and being further adapted topermit the hook portions to pass thereby when pressure is exerted atopposite ends of the handle, whereby the hooks will snap into place andbe retained between the upstanding portions vof the handle and theretaining members.

1 BENJAMIN F. KELLS.

